Game Changer Files: Erin Marek ’17MS, Game Director at Secret Door | October 1, 2024

Erin Marek ’17MS, FIEA alumna from Cohort 13. We’re asking FIEA alumni five questions about their experiences before, during and after graduating from UCF’s top-ranking game development program. From the harsh cold of the Arctic Circle to the Florida heat, to sunny California, Erin Marek ’17MS shares her story of discovering her love for crafting…

Five FIEA Students Win at the Indienomicon MeGa Health Jam | September 13, 2024

Five FIEA students placed first and third at the Indienomicon MeGa Health Jam for their innovative prototypes for healthcare last weekend in Lake Nona. Cohort 20 artists Willow Rachels and Noa Baggs compete on separate teams at the Indienomicon MeGa Health Jam from September 6-8, 2024 at Lake Nona. Photo: Indienomicon. Similar to FIEA’s GameLab,…

Five Ways the Development of UCF Downtown Has Enhanced the FIEA Experience | August 29, 2024

ORLANDO, FL – This week, UCF Downtown celebrates five years of successful growth and development alongside Valencia College in Creative Village. Encompassing FIEA, the impact of campus development has improved the student experience and strengthened the talent pipeline. In 2005, FIEA was one of the only programs downtown, 15 years before UCF Downtown’s official opening…

FIEA Welcomes 72 Aspiring Game Devs to the Program This Fall | August 23, 2024

ORLANDO, FL – This Fall semester, the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) M.S. Interactive Entertainment program enrolled 72 new programmers, artists and producers into the graduate-level game design and development program at UCF Downtown in Downtown Orlando’s Creative Village. These students make up Cohort 21 in FIEA’s top-ranking game design and development program. More than…

42 FIEAns Credited in EA SPORTS College Football 25 | August 7, 2024

EA SPORTS College Football 25 was released worldwide on July 19 with a total of 42 FIEA alumni credited in the game. Developed primarily at EA Tiburon (Orlando) across from UCF Downtown at Creative Village, alumni credited include talented graduates from 16 different cohorts. FIEA’s alumni network includes 1,001 graduates as of December 2023, and…

Cohort 20 Final Capstone Game Presentations on August 2 | July 2, 2024

Support our four capstone teams made up of 78 grad students from Cohort 20 as they present their four games, designed and developed in two semesters, to earn their Interactive Entertainment M.S. Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), the top-ranked graduate game design program by the Princeton Review, is proud to present four capstone games developed…

Game Changer Files: Marchand Venter ’17 ’18MS, Environment Artist at Obsidian Entertainment | May 22, 2024

Marchand Venter ’17 ’18MS, FIEA art alumnus from Cohort 14, discusses the perks of FIEA’s community of artists and the importance of staying up to date. We’re asking FIEA alumni five questions about their experiences before, during and after graduating from UCF’s top-ranking game development program. Environment Artist Marchand Venter ’17 ’18MS from Cohort 14…

Puppets, Roman Soldiers, and Ghosts Appear at the Spring 2024 GameLab Final Presentations | April 30, 2024

Seven teams made up of FIEA’s Cohort 20 graduate students demonstrated a variety of interactive prototypes last week at Central Florida Tech Grove in Research Park at their final GameLab presentations. Students explored a mix of technology to show how they might help a variety of partner organizations, including the U.S. Air Force, Veterans Health…

Game Changer Files: Israel Garcia-Diaz ’18MS, Experience Designer at EA SPORTS | April 18, 2024

Israel Garcia-Diaz ’18MS, FIEA art alumnus from Cohort 14, fought to return to FIEA after Hurricane Maria devastated his home island of Puerto Rico to finish his Interactive Entertainment degree with the support of FIEA faculty and staff. We’re asking FIEA alumni five questions about their experiences before, during and after graduating from UCF’s top-ranking…

Game Changer Files: Eric McGinnis ’21MS, 3D Artist at Vertex Solutions | January 24, 2024

Eric McGinnis ’21MS, FIEA art alumnus from Cohort 17 and former strength and conditioning coach, makes his way up the the bouldering wall at Blue Swan Boulders in Creative Village. We’re asking FIEA alumni five questions about their experiences before, during and after graduating from UCF’s top-ranking game development program. Eric McGinnis ’21MS from Cohort…